FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) about
EPDSC
How do I get to the Eastern PA Down Syndrome
Center?
FROM PA TURNPIKE
Exit at Lehigh Valley Exit (Exit 33). Take Route 22 East to Route 309
South.
Take Route 309 S to Exit 54, formerly Exit 16, bear right off the exit
onto Route 222 South.
*Drive South on Route 222 for approximately 4 miles.
The Health Center at Trexlertown is located on the left where Lower
Macungie Road intersects Route 222. (At the Trexler Mall; directly across
from Air Products.)
Turn left at the light onto Lower Macungie Road, then turn right into the
mall parking lot. The Health Center is located at the left end of the
mall.
FROM I-78
From the West; Follow I-78 to Exit 54. Bear right off the exit onto
Route 222 (Hamilton Blvd.) Follow directions from * above.
From the East; Once in PA, take Exit 54A onto Route 222 South (Hamilton
Blvd.), follow directions from * above.
FROM PA ROUTE 309
From North; Take Route 309 South to Exit 54, bear right off the exit
onto Route 222 South (Hamilton Blvd.) Follow directions from * above.
From South; Take Route 309 North to Exit 54A onto Route 222 South
(Hamilton Blvd.) Follow directions from * above.
How can I make an appointment for my child/adult at the Eastern PA Down
Syndrome Center?
To make an appointment at
the Center, simply call the office at 610-402-0184 and leave a message
stating you're interested in having your child or adult evaluated. One of
the office staff will return your call and obtain the information
necessary to fill in our "intake sheet". Within a few days, our scheduler
will call, discuss available appointment times and schedule the
evaluation.
What can
we expect after we have our appointment date?
After your appointment has
been made, you will receive a packet in the mail which will include a
brochure, cover letter, medical release forms, questioner, EPDSC
membership form and self-addressed, stamped envelope. Please fill out the
survey and return it to the Center, in addition to the completed
membership form, check for $15 (if you chose to become a member) and a
copy, front and back, of all your family member's insurance card(s). The
medical release forms need to be mailed out to any physicians,
specialists, therapists or educators your child or adult works with so
that those individuals can send your family member's information into the
Center. Please don't hesitate to call the office with any questions you
may have concerning any of the forms. Paperwork can be confusing and
overwhelming!
How long can we
expect our appointment to last?
Generally, your appointment
with our physician, coordinators and occupational therapist will last
approximately one and one-half hours. If you have questions or concerns
that extend beyond the appointment time, one of the coordinators can
continue to address your concerns or you can schedule some time to you
meet with the coordinators on another day. There is no fee associated with
scheduling an appointment with the Coordinators or our Administrative
Coordinator.
What happens during an
appointment?
The hour-and-one-half
appointment time is dedicated to addressing your questions and/or concerns
about your family member with Down syndrome. Before you come into the
Center, our staff reviews the medical records so that we're familiar with
the issues on paper. The day of the appointment, we start by asking which
issues are most important to you so that you leave with your concerns
being addressed. A physical exam is completed and a consultation
discussing the findings occurs. While we're talking and reviewing the Down
Syndrome Health Care Guidelines, our occupational therapist is screening
your family member and will offer commentary/advice, if appropriate. The
time passes very quickly!
Can
we take other family members with us to our appointment?
Absolutely! Part of the
mission of the Eastern PA Down Syndrome Center is to educate the public at
large about Down syndrome. Family members are often the best advocates and
want to learn all they can about Down syndrome. Grandmas and Grandpas, and
aunts and uncles, and good friends have all attended appointments. Where
young brothers and sisters are concerned, our feeling is that if you need
to attend to the other children's' needs, your missing out on information
that may be vital to your child with Down syndrome's success. If your
other child(ren) can be quietly entertained and non-disruptive, feel free
to bring them along. You know your child better than we do. Be we strongly
feel that parents get more out of an appointment when they are focused on
their child with Ds and not distracted by having other young children in
the room.
Do I need a
referral to be seen at the Center?
Coming to the Center is like
seeing any specialist. If you need a referral for a specialist
appointment, you'll need a referral for your appointment at the Center.
What types of
insurance does the EPDSC accept?
The Center accepts almost
all types of in-state insurance. See our Insurance
page for a current listing. You can call Susan, our Administrative
Coordinator, for specific questions on insurance. She's very knowledgeable
and will be glad to answer all of your questions.
Can you tell me what types of resources are available through EPDSC?
Glad you asked! The Eastern
PA Down Syndrome Center has the most extensive Down syndrome library in
the area. Our library includes periodicals, articles, books, audiocassette
tapes, videotapes and most recently, DVD's. Except for the periodicals,
all of our materials can be taken out for two weeks at a time. You can
call to let us know you'd like to come in and see our library, or on your
appointment day, you may borrow any of our resources you'd like.
